תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

He lends the poor some present aid,
Or gives them, not to be repaid.

3 When times grow dark, and tidings spread,
That fill his neighbours round with dread,
His heart is arm'd against the fear,
For God with all his power is there.
4 His soul, well fix'd upon the Lord,
Draws heavenly courage from his word;
Amidst the darkness light shall rise,
To cheer his heart, and bless his eyes.
5 He hath dispers'd his alms abroad,
His works are still before his God;
His name on earth shall long remain,
While envious sinners fret in vain.

[ocr errors]

PSALM 112.-C. M. [*]
Liberality rewarded.

HAPPY is he that fears the Lord,

And follows his commands,

Who lends the poor without reward,
Or gives with liberal hands.

2 As pity dwells within his breast
To all the sons of need;
So God shall answer his request
With blessings on his seed.

3 No evil tidings shall surprise
His well establish'd mind;
His soul to God, his refuge, flies,
And leaves his fears behind.

In times of general distress,

Some beams of light shall shine,
To shew the world his righteousness,
And give him peace divine.

mm

5 His works of piety and love Remain before the Lord;

1

Honour on earth, and joys above,
Shall be his sure reward.

[ocr errors]

PSALM 113.-L. P. M. The majesty and condescension of God. E that delight to serve the Lord, The honours of his name record, His sacred name forever bless: Where'er the circling sun displays His rising beams or setting rays, Let lands and seas his power confess Not time, nor nature's narrow rounds, Can give his vast dominion bounds; The heavens are far below his height: Let no created greatness dare With our eternal God compare,

Arm'd with his uncreated might! He bows his glorious head to view What the bright hosts of angels do, And bends his care to mortal things; His sovereign hand exalts the poor, He takes the needy from the door, And makes them company for kings. When childless families despair, He sends the blessing of an heir,

To rescue their expiring name:
The mother, with a thankful voice,
Proclaims his praises and her joys:
Let every age advance his fame.

PSALM 113.-L. M. [*]
God sovereign and gracious.

Yin very age his praises sing:

E servants of th' Almighty King,

[ocr errors]

Where'er the sun shall rise or set, The nations shall his praise repeat. 2 Above the earth, beyond the sky, Stands his high throne of majesty; Nor time, nor place, his power restrain, Nor bound his universal reign.

3 Which of the sons of Adam dare, Or angels, with their God compare? His glories, how divinely bright, Who dwells in uncreated light! 4 Behold his love; he stoops to view What saints above and angels do; And condescends yet more, to know The mean affairs of men below. 5 From dust and cottages obscure, His grace exalts the humble poor; Gives them the honour of his sons, And fits them for their heavenly thrones, 6 [A word of his creating voice

[ocr errors]

Can make the barren house rejoice:
Though Sarah's ninety years were past,
The promis'd seed is born at last.

7 With joy the mother views her son,

And tells the wonders God has done;
Faith may grow strong when sense despairs
If nature fails, the promise bears.]

PSALM 114.-L. M. [*]

Miracles attending Israel's journey.
HEN Israel, freed from Pharaoh's

1 Whand,

Lift the proud tyrant and his land,
The tribes with cheerful homage own
Their King, and Judah was his throne.

2 Across the deep their journey lay;
The deep divides to make them way:
Jordan beheld their march, and fled
With backward current to his head.

3 The mountains shook like frighted sheep,
Like lambs the little hillocks leap;
Not Sinai on her base could stand,
Conscious of sovereign power at hand.

4 What power could make the deep divide?
Make Jordan backward roll his tide?
Why did ye leap, ye little hills?
And whence the fright that Sinai feels?
5 Let every mountain, every flood,
Retire, and know th' approaching God,
The King of Israel: See him here!
Tremble, thou earth, adore and fear.
6 He thunders, and all nature mourns;
'The rock to standing pools he turns :
Flints spring with fountains at his word,
And fires and seas confess the Lord.

PSALM 115.-L. M. [*]

The true God our refuge; or, idolatry reproved. OT to ourselves, who are but dust,

1 N Not to ourselves is glory due,

Eternal God, thou only just,

Thou only gracious, wise and true.

2 Shine forth in all thy dreadful name; Why should a heathen's haughty tongue Insult us, and, to raise our shame, Say, "Where's the God you've serv'd so long ?"

3 The God we serve maintains his throne Above the clouds, beyond the skies;

mw

w

Through all the earth his will is done, He knows cur groans, he hears our cries. 4 But the vain idols they adore

Are senseless shapes of stone and wood;
At best, a mass of glittering ore,

A silver saint, or golden god.

5 [With eyes and ears, they carve their head;
Deaf are their ears, their eyes are blind:
In vain are costly offerings made,
And vows are scatter'd in the wind.

6 Their feet were never made to move,
Nor hands to save when mortals pray;
Mortals that pay them fear or love,
Seem to be blind and deaf as they.]
7 O Israel, make the Lord thy hope,
Thy help, thy refuge, and thy rest:
The Lord shall build thy ruins up,
And bless the people and the priest.
8 The dead no more can speak thy praise,
They dwell in silence in the grave:
But we shall live to sing thy grace,
And tell the world thy power to save.
PSALM 15.-P. M. [*]

1

NOT

Popish idolatry reproved.

OT to our names, thou only just and true, Not to our worthless names is glory due Thy power and grace, thy truth and justice claim Immortal honours to thy sovereign name. Shine through the earth from heaven thy blest abode, Nor let the heathen say, "And where's your God?"? Heaven is thy higher court; there stands thy throne, And through the lower worlds thy will is done. Our God fram'd all this earth, these heavens he spread, But fools adore the gods their hands have made. The kneeling crowd, with looks devout, behold, Their silver saviours, and their saints of gold,

« הקודםהמשך »